Deja Vu all over again - Last year UCLA got spanked by Florida in the national championship game. Yesterday, the Gators delivered a similar spanking, beating the Bruins 76-66. But don't be fooled by the mere 10 point difference. Florida dominated that game. UCLA was able to make it more respectable with a late run, but it was all for naught. A-Ron Afflalo choked like A-Rod by picking up 2 fouls early and playing about 5 minutes in the first half. Corey Brewer and Lee Humphrey smoked us from three and Al Horford and Joakim Noah combined for 28 rebounds on the inside.

I'll just have to admit it. Florida is a better team than UCLA. They have more talent, both inside and on the perimeter. But they're also well coached. The Bruins were able to beat Kansas (also a much more talented team) in the regional final because Ben Howland pulled down Bill Self's pants and gave it to him from behind. Billy Donovan just would not let that happen. Florida was just too good. Still, I hope Ohio St. can shut Noah's ugly face up in the championship game.

So Bruin fans must wait til next year. There are practically no seniors on the team, meaning everyone could theoretically come back. The two major threats to leave are Afflalo and Darren Collison. If they both stay, next season we'll have a starting five of Collison, Afflalo, Shipp, Mbah a Moute, and Kevin Love, with Mata, Roll, Aboya and Westbrook coming off the bench. Love will give this team the center they so desperately need: Someone who can score inside, rebound, guard opposing bigs, and especially throw the outlet pass (Love's specialty). Do I smell an undefeated season bruin? (excuse the pun)

I LOOOO DE DOYERRRRSS! - It's that time again! Opening day in the MLB began today with the Mets beating the Cardinals 6-1. Tomorrow the other 28 teams get their starts, including the Dodgers, who are in Milwaukee to begin the season. Here's my preview of how this season's Dodgers team will do:

Lineup
Rafael Furcal - .301, 14 HR, 57 RBI, 31 SB, 3 DUI's
Juan Pierre - .289, 2 HR, 39 RBI, 44 SB, 9000 outs made
Nomar Garciaparra - .322, 23 HR, 101 RBI, customary trip to the DL
Jeff Kent - .291, 28 HR, 105 RBI, 67 motorcycles ridden
Luis Gonzalez - .277, 16 HR, 77 RBI, 14 wads of gum sold
Russel Martin - .288, 14 HR, 75 RBI, 2 days off
Andre Ethier - .317, 17 HR, 72 RBI, 3 secret injuries
Wilson Betemit - .267, 21 HR, 58 RBI, 580 errors

Bench
Olmedo Saenz - .309, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 80000 hot dogs eaten
Brady Clark - who?
Mike Leiberthal - will not play

Rotation
Derek Lowe - 17-9, 3.55 ERA, 11 extramarital affairs
Jason Schmidt - 16-10, 3.80 ERA, will break down after this season
Brad Penny - 8-4, 2.97 ERA, traded midseason for Odalis Perez
Randy Wolf - 14-11, 4.16 ERA, will resign for $17 mil per year
Brett Tomko - 3-5, 4.87 ERA, will be demoted to the bullpen after 11 starts

Bullpen
Takashi Saito - 36 SV, 1.97 ERA, returns to Japan
Jonathan Broxton - 22 HLD, 2.45 ERA, loses to Olmedo in eating contest (but just barely)
Joe Beimel - 70 APP, 3.10 ERA, 7 hands cut
Chad Billingsley - 10-6, 3.50 ERA, put into rotation after Tomko sucks it up
Mark Hendrickson - 4-4, 5.67 ERA, why is he still on the team?

Dodgers
90-72
1st in NL West
NLDS: Beat Mets 3-2
NLCS: Beat Phillies 4-2
WS: Lose to Red Sox 4-0
J.D. Drew wins World Series MVP by hitting .900 wih 5 HR and 16 RBI in the series.